[21-Sep-2015] Is it recommended to fast on the day of Arafah, 9th of Dhul Hajj?

Is it recommended to fast on the day of Arafah, 9th of Dhul Hajj? If it is, what date should we fast in Pakistan: Wednesday the day Hajis are actually going to be in Arafat or Thursday, when it’s going to be 9th Dhul Hajj in Pakistan?

Answer:

Fasting on 9th of Dhul Hajj has been highly recommended in ahadith. Going by the spirit of the exercise of fasting on that day it makes more sense that we fast on Wednesday. Although it’s going to be 8th of Dhul Hajj in Pakistan, the feeling of being spiritually a part of the congregation of Arafat can only be had if we are fasting on the day the great event is happening. To me the fallacy created by the two calendars which causes us in Pakistan to celebrate Yaumul Arafah and Eidul Azha a day later than they are being celebrated in the place of Hajj is enough reason for all Muslims to decide that their lunar calendars shall be based on what’s decided in Makkah Mukarramah. It will save us from the huge embarrassment we have every year when Muslims celebrate Eids on different dates despite at times living in the same cities.